Colonic tube



p 27, 1932- c. c. HONSAKER 1,879,249

COLONIC TUBE Filed April 7. 1931 v WITNESS sYWV/W w .HTTOFINCYJ to a blunt Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED" STATES P TENT OFFICE cmnnns GOY HONSAKER, or PHILADELPHIA, P NNSYLVANIA GOLONIC TUBE Application filed April 7, 1931. Serial No 528,261

My invention relates to colonic tubes adapted for use in giving high colonic irrigation treatments- Colonic tubes are customarily made of 5 rubber with an external diameter of about slot, and in rear thereof and ordinarily di-' ametrically opposite thereto with a second similar slot, the slots thus lying on opposite sides of the tube in longitudinally spaced relation to form passages through which the irrigating fluid can pass into the patients colon after the tube is inserted therein and through which it can be withdrawn therefrom toward the conclusion of the treatment.

I have found that such tubes are unsatis factory for their intended purpose for the reason that when the fluid is being evacuated from the colon, the wall of the latter tends to collapse against the tube, especially during the latter part of the evacuation period when but a comparatively small amountof the irrigating fluid still remains in the colon,

and thus cuts off the passage of the fluid through the slots and'into the tube as Well as causing an intermittent knocking of the natural tendency of the wall so to do and Jecause of the suction 1n the tube induced by the outward passage of the fluid therethrough. Additionally, in tubes of the character of those to which I have referred, difficulty is experienced in properly and satisfactorily cleaning and sterilizing the end of the bore adjacent the tip of the tube since at that point a pocket is formed in which fecal matter and. bacteria can readily lodge. 7

It is therefore an object of my'invention 5 to provide a colonic tube which is not open to the foregoing'objections and by means of which, therefore, complete or substantially complete evacuation of the irrigating fluid and gas from the colon may be SSCHIGClWIthout discomfort to the patient; which is so constructed as to afford a passage for the irrigating fluid at all times even though the patients colon be tightly constricted about the body of the tube and which is effective to minimize or substantially prevent intermittent palpitation or knocking of the coloiiwall against the tube while evacuation of the fluid and gas is in progress ;-which is of such character that proper cleaning andthorough sterilization can be readily accomplished whenever necessary; *which is devoid of pockets or other places in which objectionable matter may-collect and which, because of the difliculty ofproperly sterilizing them, are a source of worry and annoyance'to the operator; which may be used in the same manneras the colonic tubes heretofore employed and with equal-facility, and which tends to direct a considerable portion of the irrigating fluid forwardly instead of laterally when it is being introduced into the patient.

Other objects, advantages, and novelty features of design, construction and arrangement comprehended by my invention are hereinafter more specifically mentioned or will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of certain in the accompanying drawing. ,7

' In the said drawing, Fig. 1 is 'a fra entary top plan View of the tip and adjacent portion of one of my improved colonic tubes of a form which I generally prefer; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View thereof;Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal central section taken on the line 33 in Fig.1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the tip on theline H in Fig. 3. In Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, which respectively correspond'to Figs. 1 to 4 as just described,I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention which under some circumstances may be preferred, but which in generalI consider as somewhat less'desirable than the form shown in the preceding embodiments of the invention as illustrated figures. The same symbols are used to designate the same parts throughout the several figures but in the case of Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive with the addition of a prime The form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises the usual hollow tubular body 1 of rubber or like flexible material con taining the main bore 2, which may be considered as terminating substantially at the point or plane 3, that is, at the point of juncture of the body and the tip of the tube, designated as 4, which is integral with the body. Thewall of the tube ata suitable distance from the extremity 5 of the tip is provided with a longitudinally elongated slot or opening 6 in the usual manner; the center of this slot is usually located about two inches from the end of the tube and the slot made from one-half to three-quarters of an inch in length and approximately one-quarter of an inch in width, but these measurements vary materially with different tubes.

The tip a of the tube is symmetrically tapered toward its extremity 5 so as to form a fairly blunt point, and for purposes of description may conveniently be considered as solid save as it is provided with a longitudinallydisposed slot 7 extending from its outer extremity rearwardly therethrough to join the main bore 2 in the vicinity of the plane 3. As best shown in Fig.4 this slot is of oppositely undercut U-shape, its bottom for the major portion of its length being preferably substantially coincident with the axis of the tube body but gradually sloping downwardly, as at- 8, as it approaches the plane 3 so as to smoothly merge with the bore of the tube at its juncture therewith. As best shown in Fig. 1, the opposite edges of the walls or lips of the slot are oppositely inwardly curved as at 9 from its outer extremity and again flared oppositely outward as at 10 and again turned oppositely inwardly as at 11 to define the marginal edge of an opening or passage 12 inclining downwardly and rearwardly (when the device is viewed as in Fig. 3) to intersect the main bore 2 in the vicinity of the plane 3, this opening being desirably diametrically disposed to the slot or opening 6.

It will thus be apparent that a considerable body 13 of the rubber or other material is provided beneath and on opposite sides of the slot 7, while the upper margin of the slot is defined by relatively thin edges or lips which, as they progress rearwardly, ultimately merge togeher and serve to define the opening 12; the tip is thus of suflicient inherent stiffness to facilitate introduction of the tube although the slot-defining portions or lips thereof are capable of giving inwardly to a reasonable extent if required during this operation.

' It will be further apparent that with a.

gating fluid when introduced therethrough can flow laterally or radially into the colon through the opening 6 in the usual manner and also thereinto through the opening 12 and slot 7, the latter forming in eflect a longitudinally extending passage which serves to correspondingly forwardly direct that portion of the fluid passing therethrough which is frequently of advantage. Additionally, irrespective of how tightly the colon may be constricted about the tube, either momentarily or for a longer period, the passage formed by the slot 7 always remains open, so that irrespective of possiole closure of either or both of the openings 6 and 12 by the colon wall, the liquid can be directed into the colon through the slot at all times, while the forward movement of "the fluid therethrough tends to removeany temporary obstructions.

During the evacuating stage of the treatment when the customary form of tube is employed, the suction of the fluid flowing out of the tube tends to draw or such down the wall of the colon against the openings in the tube wall, thus cutting elf the fluid flow and interfering with the proper siphoning action. As the vacuum or negative pressure in the tube is then relieved or decreased momentarily at the cessation of the flow by admission of air to the outer end of the tube, the colon wall tends to spring away from the tube, thus re-establishing the'fluid flow, and as the siphonic action is thus intermittently established and interrupted, the colon wall is caused to palpitate or knock against the tube. This is not only very disagreeable to the patient, but makes it extremely diflicult, if not impossible, to completely evacuate all of the fluid. VJherc a tube constructed in accordance with my invention is employed, however,the slot 7 remains open at all times during the evacuation stage even though the colon wall may obstruct either or both of the openings (3 and 12 since it is a practical im- 1 possibility for the wall to also close over the slot sufiiclently to obstruct 1t. In consequence, properand continuous siphoning action is constantly maintained while evacuation is being carried on w1th resultant negation of the palpitation or the knocking of the colon wall on the tube and complete or substantially complete withdrawal. of the fluid.

Since there are no pockets, sharp corners or other places adapted for the lodgment of fecal matter, or points which are in any way diflicult to reach in a tube constructed in accordance with my invention, it is a very simple matter to thoroughly clean and sterilize it, and the operator can thus be assured atall times that the tube after sterilization is in proper condition for use. Moreover, the tubes lend themselves to easy and efiicient manufacture and can thus be produced on a competitive basis with the ordinary forms of tubes, while the use thereof materially en-f hances the comfort of the patient and facil--- itates the carrying out of the treatment.

In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention'.

considerably smaller diameter than the main bore 2 in the body of the tube and preferably substantially coaxial with the latter. This form of tube may also be provided with the usual slot 6 in its wall in rear of its tip and with an opening 12 generally corresponding to the opening 12 which forms a passage extending inwardly and rearwardly to intersect the bore 2 substantially in the plane 3. As in the case of the tube first described, a tube such as is shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive thus embodies a substantially solid tip, the passage 5 therethrough tending to direct the incoming fluid forwardly instead of radially similarly to the slot 7 while, during the evacuation period of the treatment, this passage remains open at all times and thus serves to prevent the creation of a vacuum or negative pressure in the tube with resulting knocking and disc0mfort to the patient, as already explained, even if both openings 6 and 12' are fully closed by construction of the colon wall thereover. Moreover, a tube of this character is capable of thorough cleaning and sterilization as it presents no pockets, sharp corners or thelik While I have herein described and illustrated certain forms of my invention with considerable particularity, I do not thereby desire or intend to limit myself specifically thereto as the details of construction and ar rangement thereof are capable of modification in numerous minor particulars if desired without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. A device of the class described, comprising a flexible tubular body and a tip integral therewith, the wall of the body having an aperture adjacent the junction of the body and the tip, and the tip having a longitudinal passage of'less diameter than the bore in the body extending from its extremity rearwardly and forming an extension of said bore in the vicinity of the said aperture.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a flexible tubular body and a tip integral therewith externally tapering from the body toward its-extremity, theiwalliof the body adjacent thejuncture ofthe tip .andthe .body ha'vinma passage leading from the here within the ody tothe surface ofthe device, the. mouth-of the passageof less. diameter than saidbore adjacent said surface being of generally elliptical contour, and the tip having a longitudinal passage extending rearwardly from its extremity and forming an extension from adjacent the juncture ofsaid passage with said bore.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a flexible tubularbody and a tip integral therewith, the wall of the body adjacent the rear end of the tip having a passage therethrough communicating with the bore of the body and the tip havinga longitudinal passage of undercut U-shape cross section and defined at its open side by oppositely inward- 1y projecting lips overhanging the passage extending rearwardly from the extremity of the tip and opening-into said bore adjacent the rear end of the tip.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a flexible tubular body and a solid tip integral therewith, the wall of the body adjacent the point of juncture with the tip being provided with a passage whose mouth adj acentthe surface of the device is of generally elliptical form, and the tip having a longitudinal passage extending rearwardlyfrom its extremity and communicating with Y the bore in the body in the vicinity of the inner end of said first mentioned passage, said last mentioned passage belng of substantially undercut U-shape in trans verse section and having its bottom substantil tially coincident with the axis of the body.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a flexible tubular body and a solid tip integral therewith, the wall of the body adjacent the point of juncture with the tip being provided with a passage whose mouth adjacent the surface of the device is of generally elliptical form, and the tip having a longitudinal passage extending rearwardly from its extremity and opening into the bore in the body in the vicinity of the inner end of said passage, said last mentioned passage being of substantiallyv undercut U-shape in transverse section and having its bottom sub-" stantially coincident with the axis of the body and its upper edges defined by overhanging lips. curving oppositely inwardly from the extremity of the tip. 6. A device of the class described, comprising a flexible tubular body and an integral tip symmetrically tapered toward its extremity and having a substantially axial passage extending rearwardly therefrom, and said bodybeing provided with an'opening through its wall adjacent the rear end of said passage and extending'into the bore in the body and forming an extension of the rear end ofthe passage, the wall of the bodyin the rear of said opening having a second openin extending therethrough in substan- "tially iametrically opposed relation to the first opening.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my a 1 3 hand this 6th day of April, 1931.

CHARLES COY HONSAKER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,879,249. September 27, 1932.

CHARLES GOY HONSAKER.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 35, for "construction" read "constriction"; and lines 70 and 71, claim 2, strike out the words of less diameter than said bore" and insert the same to follow "passage" in line 73; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of December, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

